The U.S. Army has named a new deputy chief for the Corps of Engineers, Maj. Gen. Kimberly M. Colloton, who, a Corps spokesman confirms, is the first woman to hold the posts of the deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general.

The Army Chief of Staff announced Colloton's promotion to the Corps' No. 2 post on April 3. Since August 2022, she has been the Corps' deputy commanding general for military and international operations.

In that role, Colloton has been responsible for overseeing more than $22 billion in design, construction and environmental programs for the Army, the U.S. Air Force, other Defense Dept. branches, nondefense federal agencies and foreign nations.

In her new position, Colloton will succeed Maj. Gen. William  H. (Butch) Graham, who has been deputy chief since May 2023.

Colloton's many Army assignments have included leading the Corps Transatlantic and South Pacific divisions, as well as its Afghanistan district in “Operation Freedom's Sentinel." 

Other assignments with the Corps included commanding its Los Angeles and Albuquerque districts.

Colloton’s promotion was among 37 general-officer shifts announced by the Army on April 3. The other Corps-related change in the group was the naming of Col. Joseph C. Goetz II as commander of its Pacific Ocean Division, based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Goetz has been commandant of the Army Engineers School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

At the Pacific Ocean Division, Goetz will succeed Brig. Gen. Kirk E. Gibbs, who on March 4 was named to lead the Corps Northwestern Division, based in Portland, Ore.

Change of command ceremonies for Corps leaders typically take place several months after leadership shifts are announced. Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon remains the Corps commanding general and Army Chief of Engineers—positions he has held since September 2020. Corps chiefs typically serve four-year terms.